Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-01515

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any cumulative impact of delays in the consenting process on Scotland's pipeline of renewable energy investment across all technologies, including any effect on investor confidence, project delivery timescales and the growth of associated supply chains.

It is vital to note that achieving consent is only one of several interconnected factors that determine deliverability and the Scottish Government has not analysed the impact of consenting in isolation. Grid availability and a route to market through Contracts for Difference are key factors outwith the Scottish Government’s control.

The Scottish Government is aware, however, of concerns regarding planning timescales and as set out in the 100 Days of a New SNP Government document, we are consulting with partners to ensure that the planning system acts as an enabler to economic growth and investment.

Question reference: S7W-01517

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications under section (a) 36 and (b) 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are currently awaiting determination by the Energy Consents Unit, and what proportion of applications in each category have exceeded the 52-week determination target.

As of 14 July 2026, at the time of answering, the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) has the following live caseload of development applications which are yet to be determined:

SECTION 36	TOTAL
Wind farm	92
Battery Energy Storage System	49
Hybrid/solar	16
Hydro	5
Gas	1
Section 36c (variations)	3

SECTION 37	TOTAL
Overhead Line	64

Please note that that the 52-week determination ambition does not explicitly refer to all applications.

The Priority Applications for Transmission Infrastructure Guidance, published in February 2025, includes a 52-week ambition to determine section 37 applications that deliver essential upgrades to the high-voltage energy network, also known as the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework.

Two section 37 ASTI applications have been determined so far, both within the 52-week determination target.

For onshore wind application information, I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01423 on 28 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S7W-01516

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the 52-week determination target for applications under section 36 and section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 is met in full, and what mechanisms are in place to monitor performance against this target.

Question reference: S7W-01518

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the current resourcing levels are within the Energy Consents Unit, and whether it considers those levels to be sufficient to manage the projected increase in application volumes.

Question reference: S7W-01519

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the resourcing within its Planning and Environmental Appeals Division in relation to renewable energy appeals, and what action it is taking to address any identified gaps.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) resourcing to ensure it can effectively discharge its statutory functions.

This review is consistent with the wider principles of the public service reform strategy that aims to deliver a more collaborative and efficient public service across Scotland.

Alongside its existing workload, the DPEA has experienced a significant increase in renewable energy-related casework, particularly in relation to onshore wind developments, strategic electricity transmission infrastructure, and associated wayleave and anticipated compulsory purchase order cases.

DPEA has implemented a range of operational improvements to support increasing workloads. These include enhanced forecasting and case management, strengthened engagement with consenting colleagues and transmission operators, the early allocation of reporters to priority cases, expansion of its pool of consultant reporter's, to help manage increasing volumes efficiently, increased use of digital processes, and ongoing review of procedures and guidance. Together, these measures are designed to ensure cases are handled as efficiently and proportionately as possible whilst maintaining the quality and robustness of decision-making.

The Scottish Government will continue to keep DPEA's resource requirements under review, within the principles of the wider public service reform strategy, to ensure it is able to support the timely determination of planning and energy infrastructure projects that are critical to delivering Scotland's net zero targets and long-term energy security.

Question reference: S7W-01670

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what financial return it has realised for each of the NHS capital programmes financed by the non-profit distributing public private partnership model.

Question reference: S7W-01558

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the LIFT Open Market Share Equity (OMSE) scheme will reopen for applications.

Question reference: S7W-00909

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities and COSLA regarding replicating its Future Planners Programme.

We have had no discussions with local authorities and COSLA about replicating the Future Planners Programme.

Heads of Planning Scotland has been supportive with the current Programme, providing work shadowing opportunities and other learning and development sessions for Student Planners. We will continue to work in partnership with planning authorities and other stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to increase resilience of the planning profession.

Question reference: S7W-00910

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of places on its Future Planners Programme.

Question reference: S7W-00969

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 3 June 2026 Court of Session ruling, which found that Scottish Ministers' failure to comply with the compliance timescale set out in a December 2025 Freedom of Information Decision amounted to a contempt of court, what procedures have been put in place to (a) mitigate the risk of similar action in future and (b) protect the public purse.

The Scottish Government respects the Court’s judgement of 3 June and will consider its implications in detail.

It should be noted that the material required to be released under the Commissioner’s Decision Notice was published on 24 February. The release consisted of over 700 documents, totalling over 4500 pages and can be accessed on the Scottish Government website.

There were a number of challenges which were specific to the context of this case. Ministers have previously set out to Parliament the requirement to balance our obligations under Freedom of Information legislation with the need to prevent identification of alleged victims in cases of sexual assault.

Ministers do not believe that the challenges experienced in this particular case are indicative of wider issues in the Scottish Government’s ability to meet its FOISA obligations within required timescales. As the Scottish Information Commissioner has recognised, the Scottish Government is a high performing authority in relation to the discharge of its FOI obligations generally. We will consider whether there are specific lessons that can be learned from this case, and from the detail of the Court’s judgement.